Coronavirus pandemic in the US

President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House on May 22 in Washington.

It’s Friday afternoon in the East Coast. If you’re just joining us, here’s what you’ve missed:

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam speaks during a press briefing in Richmond, Virginia, on May 15.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam reminded Virginians of a number of safety issues as the state heads into Memorial Day weekend, including possible flooding and avoiding large gatherings. 

The governor pointed out that there has been some heavy rainfall across much of the state, especially in the southwest, meaning rivers are up and flooding is possible. Northam warned Virginians to be aware of river restrictions and their local weather forecast.

Some context: The governor said 116 people, four dogs and two birds were rescued yesterday from flooding that was occurring in the area 

Northam also pointed out that Virginians need to remain conscientious of social distancing guidelines.

“We still need everyone to be smart and safe this weekend. Don’t gather in large groups, don’t crowd parks or natural areas. Remember to maintain your social distancing, and please wear a face covering when you’re out in public,” he said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said it would not follow President Trump’s call to open houses of worship around the country this weekend.

CAIR said that American Muslim scholars and community leaders have already determined that public religious activities will be restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic, and that is unlikely to change despite Trump’s announcement Friday afternoon.

“Nothing the President says now is likely to alter that decision, particularly given his previous Islamophobic policies and rhetoric,” CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper told CNN in an email. 

The Fiqh Council of North America has called on mosques and Islamic centers to “strictly follow the health and state official guidelines for social gatherings and distancing,” and to hold Eid prayers at home and to “listen to virtual Eid reflections from their local masjids (mosque),” according to Hooper. 

Muslims around the United States will celebrate Eid al-Fitr this weekend beginning Saturday night.

Religious institutions should provide soap and hand sanitizer and encourage the use of cloth masks and clean their facilities daily if they want to open while coronavirus is still spreading, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in newly released guidance Friday.

Churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious institutions should also promote social distancing and consider limiting the sharing of objects such as books and hymnals, the CDC said.

President Trump had said he would push the CDC to issue new guidance.

“I said, ‘You better put it out,’” Trump told a round table in Michigan Thursday.

At a White House press briefing earlier today, Trump said he wanted Americans to go back to church and urged governors to lift restrictions.

Following President Trump’s declaration that places of worship are essential and should be reopened immediately, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state is “days away” from releasing guidelines to safely reopen.

The governor said he expects those guidelines to be released Monday.

Under Newsom’s current plan, churches would be allowed to reopen in Stage 3. The state is currently in the early portion of its Stage 2 road map to reopen. Newsom has been under increasing pressure by the state’s faith-based institutions to reopen.

More than 1,200 pastors in California this week signed a petition that says they will resume in-person services beginning on May 31. 

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced on Friday it will allow “voluntary in-person athletics activities” to resume on all 14-member campuses, at the discretion of each university, starting June 8.

The SEC will allow student-athletes in the sports of football and men’s and women’s basketball to return to campus beginning June 8 under the guidance of each university and individual state and local health officials.

Under strict supervision, teams will be allow to participate in voluntary activities as they prepare to adapt to full training activity needed for the fall sport season.

Organized practices and other required physical activities remain prohibited by the NCAA in all sports until July 31.

Summer Camps and programs in San Francisco can resume on June 15 with limited capacity, Mayor London Breed’s office announced today. 

Kids, ages 6-17, can attend camp and priority must be given to parents who are allowed to work under the latest health order. Low-income and other vulnerable populations must also be prioritized.

Programs must adhere to safety measures including temperature checks and enhanced cleaning.

There have been at least 2,320 cases of coronavirus reported in San Francisco, including 40 deaths.

Vice President Mike Pence said Georgia is “leading the way” in the reopening of America during at a roundtable visit at Waffle House headquarters today.

The roundtable included the owners of several restaurant groups as well as Pence, Kemp and Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia. The participants primarily focused on the economic impact of the pandemic, how programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) have helped and where their businesses stand on reopening. 

Pence praised multiple members of Congress from Georgia who were present at the event, including Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins. 

As the roundtable concluded, Pence also mentioned the new guidelines on houses of worship that Trump announced at a news conference earlier today.

“As I was walking in the President had our CDC work with the task force and today we published new guidelines for places of worship. We want to get America back to church,” Pence said. 

Dr. Deborah Birx, a White House coronavirus task force official, said the Food and Drug Administration has been “very clear” about its concerns with using hydroxychloroquine as a Covid-19 treatment.

She said a newly-released study looking at the use of the drug on patients with the virus shows patients with certain underlying conditions can be put at risk by taking the drug President Trump has pushed. 

“The FDA has been very clear on their website about their concerns about hydroxychoroquine,” she told reporters at the White House briefing. 

Birx was asked about a Lancet study of thousands of coronavirus patients. The study concluded that researchers were “unable to show a benefit” of using the drug, which Trump has admitted to taking himself.

“I take comfort in the Lancet study and I hope everyone here does,” Birx said.

Watch:

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey reacted to President Trump’s call for houses of worship to open this weekend by tweeting that there have been no closures in his state.

“Unlike other states, AZ has protected places of worship from closure throughout #COVID19. They are Constitutionally protected under the 1st Amendment. Many chose to close on their own, and many are opening back up,” Ducey tweeted.

He went on to share the state’s guidelines for houses of worship to operate in the state.